February 23, 2014

Alfredo Catalani is best known today for his opera La Wally, but he also experimented with a number of orchestral works, including three symphonies. Ero e Leandro, Catalani’s last orchestral work, evokes the dramatic tragedy of the Greek mythological lovers Hero and Leander. The brief Scherzo is a sparkling piece while the Andantino is noteworthy for its fluid melodic line. The lyricism of Contemplazione contrasts with Il Mattino, a single-movement symphony divided into several clearly distinguishable sections.